URI Sixth In CAA Football Preseason Poll, Five Rams Earn Preseason Honors
University of Rhode Island Press Release
KINGSTON, R.I. – Five Rhode Island players earned CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team honors and the Rams were picked to finish sixth in the league’s preseason poll, it was announced Tuesday morning.
Offensive lineman Nick Correia highlighted the awards with a CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team nod. Quarterback Kasim Hill, wide receiver Kahtero Summers, linebacker Evan Stewart and offensive lineman Lorenzo Thompson garnered honorable mention.
Already dubbed a Preseason All-American by both HERO Sports and Bluebloods, Correia was a Stats Perform Third Team All-American and CAA Football First Team All-Conference selection a season ago. He has started 37 consecutive games at right guard for Rhode Island, helping to led an offensive line unit that paved the way for the third-highest scoring offense in the league in 2022.
Hill checks into URI’s all-time list in numerous categories including passing yards (5,156, third), touchdown passes (39, third), pass completions (363, fifth) and rushing touchdowns (15, ninth). The signal caller has led the Rams to three-straight winning seasons and will look to improve on the team’s 30.64 points per game from 2022.
After transferring to Kingston for the 2022 campaign, Summers was second on the team with 42 catches for 675 yards while reading the Rams with six touchdowns catches. He caught at least one pass in every contest and had three-or-more receptions nine times.
A returning Third Team All-CAA Football selection, Stewart has been a mainstay in the Rhody lineup over the last three seasons. He recorded 80 tackles a year ago to go along with 5.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss in 10 games. The Sparta, N.J. native has 183 tackles in 124 career games and is active both against the run and when dropping into pass coverage.
With a 6-7 frame, Thompson uses his build and technique to keep the blindside safe. The Syracuse, N.Y. native has started 25 straight games at left tackle and played in 38 overall.
Rhody is five weeks out from hitting the gridiron for the start of the 2023 season. The Rams will open up their campaign on the road at Georgia State on Thursday, Aug. 31.
2023 CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
OFFENSE
Max Brosmer, QB, New Hampshire
Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
Jaden Shirden, RB, Monmouth
Bronson Yoder, RB, William & Mary
Johncarlos Miller III, H-B, Elon
Kyle Lepkowski, TE, New Hampshire
Jaaron Hayek, WR, Villanova
Dymere Miller, WR, Monmouth
Jourdan Townsend, WR, Delaware
Ryan Coll, OL, Richmond
Michael Corbi, OL, Villanova
Nick Correia, OL, Rhode Island
Mike Edwards, OL, Campbell
Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary
Tairiq Stewart, OL, North Carolina A&T
DEFENSE
Marlem Louis, DL, Richmond
Nate Lynn, DL, William & Mary
Dylan Ruiz, DL, New Hampshire
Josiah Silver, DL, New Hampshire
Isaiah Jones, LB, William & Mary
John Pius, LB, William & Mary
Qwahsin Townsel, LB, Hampton
Tristan Wheeler, LB, Richmond
Jalen Jones, CB, William & Mary
Karon Prunty, CB, North Carolina A&T
Ryan Poole, CB, William & Mary
Aaron Banks, S, Richmond
Bo Sanders,S, Elon
SPECIAL TEAMS
D’Ago Hunter, KR, Towson
Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire
Alex Schmoke,PK, Delaware
Ryan Kost, P, Delaware
Chandler Brayboy, SPEC, Elon
CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jaden Shirden, RB, Monmouth
CAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: John Pius, LB, William & Mary
Honorable mention: Kasim Hill, QB, Rhode Island; Reese Poffenbarger, QB, UAlbany; Darius Wilson, QB, William & Mary; Jalen Hampton, RB, Elon; Braden Brose, TE, Delaware; Joey Corcoran, WR, New Hampshire; Kahtero Summers, WR, Rhode Island; Greg Anderson, OL, Monmouth; Fintan Brose, OL, Delaware; Lorenzo Thompson, OL, Rhode Island; Jabril Williams, OL, Elon; Jesus Gibbs, DL, Towson; Jeremiah Grant, DL, Richmond; Anton Juncaj, DL; UAlbany; Chase McGowan, DL, Delaware; Aidan Kaler, LB, Stony Brook; Dylan Kelly, LB, UAlbany; Evan Stewart, LB, Rhode Island; CJ Tillman, LB, Campbell; Kahzir “Buggs” Brown, CB, Maine; Robert Javier, CB, Towson; Mike Reid, CB, Monmouth; Marcus Barnes, S, William & Mary; Jalen Goodman, S, Villanova; Bryson Parker, S, Richmond; Caleb Dowden, PK, Campbell; Matt Mercurio, PK, Villanova; Will Whitehurst, P, William & Mary; Taymon Cooke, KR, North Carolina A&T
2023 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
(Selected by a vote of Head Coaches)
1. William & Mary (13) – 195
2. New Hampshire (1) – 179
3. Richmond – 159
4. Delaware (1) – 149
5. Elon – 146
6. Rhode Island – 135
7. Villanova – 129
8. Monmouth – 94
9. Towson – 85
10. North Carolina A&T – 70
11. UAlbany – 64
12. Campbell – 62
13. Maine – 40
14. Stony Brook – 38
15. Hampton – 30
First-place votes in parentheses
